Filed by Cleveland-Cliffs Inc Commission File No. 1-8944 Pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act of 1933 and deemed filed pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934   Subject Company: Alpha Natural Resources, Inc. Commission File No. 1-32423     July 16, 2008   Valued Customer:   As you may be aware, on July 16 Cleveland-Cliffs began a new chapter in its long history of innovation, partnership and growth in the diversified mining industry by combining its business with Alpha Natural Resources, a major supplier and exporter of metallurgical and thermal coal. The combination of these two companies will create one of the largest U.S. mining companies and one of the largest in the world. Once the transaction is completed, we will be doing business under a new name, “Cliffs Natural Resources.”   Our intent is to quickly integrate Cliffs and Alpha and thereby optimize our highly complementary operations. We believe this combination will be beneficial to all of our stakeholders, including our customers.   Although we will immediately commence integration planning, the acquisition is still subject to approval by each company’s shareholders, the satisfaction of customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals. We expect the transaction to close by the end of 2008. Until then, we remain separate companies, and we will continue to conduct business as usual. We do not anticipate you will experience any changes as a result of this acquisition. There will be no interruption in mine production or quality, and we expect to maintain current service levels.   We firmly believe the combination of Cliffs and Alpha will enable us to better meet your needs. As always, we are committed to providing you with the same quality and commitment you’ve come to expect from Cliffs.   We are committed to keeping you informed of developments related to the transaction. In the meantime, please continue to direct inquiries to your current contact person at Cleveland-Cliffs.   On the behalf of both Cleveland-Cliffs and Alpha Natural Resources, we look forward to a continuing our mutually-beneficial relationship, as we begin this new chapter in the history of our business.
Sincerely,     Joe Carrabba President, Chairman and CEO Cleveland-Cliffs Inc

“Safe Harbor” Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995

A number of the matters discussed in this document that are not historical or current facts deal with potential future circumstances and developments, in particular, information regarding expected synergies resulting from the merger of Cleveland-Cliffs and Alpha, combined operating and financial data, the combined company’s plans, objectives, expectations and intentions and whether and when the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement will be consummated. The discussion of such matters is qualified by the inherent risks and uncertainties surrounding future expectations generally, and also may materially differ from actual future experience involving any one or more of such matters. Such risks and uncertainties include: the risk that the businesses will not be integrated successfully; the risk that the cost savings and any other synergies from the transaction may not be fully realized or may take longer to realize than expected; changes in demand for iron ore pellets by North American integrated steel producers, or changes in Asian iron ore demand due to changes in steel utilization rates, operational factors, electric furnace production or imports into the United States and Canada of semi-finished steel or pig iron; the impact of consolidation and rationalization in the steel industry; timing of changes in customer coal inventories; changes in, renewal of and acquiring new long-term coal supply arrangements; inherent risks of coal mining beyond the combined company’s control; environmental laws, including those directly affecting coal mining production, and those affecting customers’ coal usage; competition in coal markets; railroad, barge, truck and other transportation performance and costs; the geological characteristics of Central and Northern Appalachian coal reserves; availability of mining and processing equipment and parts; the combined company’s assumptions concerning economically recoverable coal reserve estimates; disruption from the transaction making it more difficult to maintain relationships with customers, employees or suppliers; the failure to obtain governmental approvals of the transaction on the proposed terms and schedule, and any conditions imposed on the combined company in connection with consummation of the merger; the failure to obtain approval of the merger by the stockholders of Cleveland-Cliffs and Alpha and the failure to satisfy various other conditions to the closing of the merger contemplated by the merger agreement; and the risks that are described from time to time in Cleveland-Cliffs’ and Alpha’s respective reports filed with the SEC, including each of Cleveland-Cliffs’ and Alpha’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007 and quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2008, as such reports may have been amended. This document speaks only as of its date, and Cleveland-Cliffs and Alpha each disclaims any duty to update the information herein.

Additional Information and Where to Find It

In connection with the proposed transaction, a registration statement on Form S-4 will be filed with the SEC. CLEVELAND-CLIFFS AND ALPHA SHAREHOLDERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO READ THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS FILED WITH THE SEC, INCLUDING THE JOINT PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS THAT WILL BE PART OF THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT, WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE, BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROPOSED MERGER. The final joint proxy statement/prospectus will be mailed to shareholders of Cleveland-Cliffs and shareholders of Alpha. Investors and security holders will be able to obtain the documents free of charge at the SEC’s web site, www.sec.gov, from Cleveland-Cliffs Inc, Investor Relations, 1100 Superior Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44114-2544, or call (216) 694-5700, or from Alpha Natural Resources, Inc., One Alpha Place, P.O. Box 2345, Abingdon, Virginia 24212, attention: Investor Relations, or call (276) 619-4410.

Participants In Solicitation

Cleveland-Cliffs and Alpha and their respective directors and executive officers and other members of management and employees may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies in respect of the proposed merger. Information concerning Cleveland-Cliffs’ participants is set forth in the proxy statement dated March 26, 2008, for Cleveland-Cliffs’ 2008 annual meeting of shareholders as filed with the SEC on Schedule 14A. Information concerning Alpha’ participants is set forth in the proxy statement, dated April 2, 2008, for Alpha’s 2008 annual meeting of stockholders as filed with the SEC on Schedule 14A. Additional information regarding the interests of participants of Cleveland-Cliffs and Alpha in the solicitation of proxies in respect of the proposed merger will be included in the registration statement and joint proxy statement/prospectus and other relevant materials to be filed with the SEC when they become available.